Framingham: Freeman would advocate for key projects

Editor's note: This is the last in a series of editorial board interviews with the five candidates running for the Board of Selectmen.

By Danielle Ameden

Daily News Staff

FRAMINGHAM - Doug Freeman says he would provide leadership if elected selectman, advocating strongly for key projects and to ease the tax burden on residents.

One of five candidates vying for two available seats in the April 1 town election, Freeman said he aims to fill the "void of leadership" created by board Chairman Dennis Giombetti’s decision to give up his seat.

"This is an opportunity and I really think that Framingham needs to have someone with my skills and talents and abilities," Freeman told Daily News editors this week. "I think I can make a difference."

Between rising property taxes and high water and sewer rates, residents are now feeling burdened, Freeman said.

He said he would bring his trained eye as a forensic accountant to budget and tax-setting discussions to search for operational efficiencies and make sure the town is spending money wisely.

He praised Giombetti’s persistence that has finally led the owner of the neglected Mt. Wayte Plaza to file plans for redevelopment. Freeman said he’d take the same leadership role to push for similar revitalization results for the Nobscot plaza and downtown.

"It takes a constant drumbeat to kind of advocate for that in a selectman and I think that’s what the town needs," he said.

He said he wants to make downtown a destination with its own personality. "It needs to become the eclectic center that people like to go to," he said.

Freeman, a former Town Meeting member, has been active in town in the past, including as organizer of Framingham’s Flag Day celebration.

Freeman has also served on the Framingham Civic League’s board, now called Impact Framingham.

He said he has a cooperative attitude and appreciates selectmen’s role of setting policies and a vision for the town’s future.

Freeman said he’s focused on three areas: quality of life, affordability for residents and businesses and providing strong public safety and services.

He said he wants to streamline procedures and take other actions to make the town friendlier to businesses.

"I think there’s been a tremendous improvement" under Town Manager Robert Halpin," he said. "But there’s a lot of room for improvement."

The other candidates in the race are incumbent Laurie Lee, Ryan Gagne, Deborah Butler and Cheryl Tully Stoll.

Danielle Ameden can be reached at 508-626-4416 or dameden@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @damedenMW.